Thing is, it has to be someone small enough to ride on DK's back, so that would rule out a big character like Funky Kong or King K. Rool. Kiddy Kong may still have a chance then if there really is a fifth playable character.

I find it really cool that the bramble level revealed last night is inspired by the ones in Donkey Kong Country 2. It even has the same name as a bramble level from DKC2, Bramble Scramble! It makes me wish that a remix of Stickerbrush Symphony would play there even though this game has almost all new music.

Avian fact of the week: The Moa, an extinct relative of ostrichs and emus that inhabited New Zealand, was the tallest bird that ever lived at 12 ft tall (3.6 m). It was also the only known bird to have no wing structure.

My money is still on Funky (or rather his plane) being playable in the way of horizontal shooting stages that take the Kongs from island to island. I know it's a stretch, but it sounds dang awesome. Those mosquito levels were great in Rayman Origins!

@CM30: I agree; it's better for them to have Wise make some new classics. Although it wouldn't have to be an outright remix, he could still add some "familiarties" that would sound like some of the notes from Stickerbrush Symphony in the bramble level. Mario Kart 7's Rainbow Road immediately comes to mind with the way its music integrated the N64's Rainbow Road theme.

This game is in need of a Super Mario 3D World-like revival. I'm trying my best not to be worried, but it does seem like this game's image has been hurt among even Nintendo fans. Mario 3D World has become a new model for how a video game can turn around when it comes to hype, so there's still hope.